Sequence indication apparatus



y 7, 1949. P. A. BUCKY EIAL 2,470,469

SEQUENCE INDICATION APPARATUS Filed Dec. 8, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORJ PETE/P A. Bucxv mva Al/L SAN/160M P. A. BUCKY EVTAL May 17, 1949.

SEQUENCE INDI CATION APPARATUS Filed Dec. 8, 1945" 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Rr m4 FL 15 a? MM A I N VEN TORS Pars/e A. BUG/(Y. AND/DAV. SARASOIV A TTORNEY,

' y 1,1949. P. A. BUCKY Em 2 70, 69

SEQUENCE INDICATION APPARATUS Filed Dec. 8, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 AND PA (/L SARASON A T TORNEX Patented May 17, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEQUENCE INDICATION APPARATUS Application December 8, 1945, Serial No. 633,652

1 Claim. 1

The invention relates to sequence indication apparatus, operative more especially with reference to the order of serving purchasers of foods, drinks or commodities generally; also for indicating operational sequences, etc.

It has for an object to provide signal means whereby, in the case of service, a visual indication will be given to designate the party next to be served, such signal being effected automatically by the proximity of the purchaser to the point of sale or service.

A further object of the invention is to so arrange the indication that it will be visible both to the customer and the one responsible for the service.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means whereby, after service has been rendered, the particular signal may no longer be displayed and a signal corresponding to the service next in order will then be automatically displayed.

In carrying out the invention, provision is made for closing individually one or more of a plurality of electrical circuits, for example, automatically by the seating of a customer or, under the control of the customer, as in the provision of a suitable switch or button which when actuated will momentarily effect the circuit closing. Upon the closing of such circuit, a suitable opaque tape will be perforated and then immediately advanced so as to displace subsequent perforations longitudinally of said tape. The various perforations are also to be displaced transversely of the tape in accordance with the particular circuit closed so as to differentiate the subsequent indications.

These indications are, preferably, in the nature of visual indications such as may be afforded by an electric lamp, one lamp being provided in relation to each of the circuits. To effect such indications, the perforated tape advances to a photoelectric system which, when a perforation arrives thereat, will permit light from an exciter light source to activate the correlated photoelectric lamp aligned with the particular tape position of the said perforation. The photoelectric response will, in turn, through suitable relay means close a local circuit for the corresponding indication element such as an electric signal lamp. This lamp then remains energized until the service is completed and a restoring circuit is energized. for example, by the one effecting the service closing momentarily a suitable switch or push button or the like. The closing of said switch causes automatically advance of the tape one step, thereby interrupting the light beam; and, if a subsequent perforation is present, will cause a corresponding but different electric signal lamp to be energized in similar manner.

The nature of the invention, however, will best be understood when described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive are isometric projections illustrating various adaptions of the invention, Fig. 1 representing a bar of counter type of service fixture equipped with the novel indicator system, Fig. 2 a booth type, and Fig. 3 a counter not provided with seats; while Fig. 4 shows a form of indicating and control unit which may be applied to a bar or sales counter without appreciably marring or altering it.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic representation of tape advancing mechanism and a tape utilized in carrying out the invention, together with the operating electrical circuits therefor.

Figs. 6 and 7 are fragmentary detail views, respectively in plan and end elevation, of tape punching and tape advancing mechanism, with portion broken away in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a form of circuitclosing switch which may be used in an operating circuit and as is embodied in a stool.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a section of the control tape showing the arrangement of the control perforations therein.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, l0 designates a counter or like installation as commonly employed in connection with the sale of various commodities; and, in the particular embodiment shown, the counter is provided with stools or seats located in front of the counter and of a nature more especially disclosed in Figure 8, said seats being represented in Figure 1 by their backs H which project above the top of the counter. At the rear of the counter is attached an angle bracket [2, its one face being arranged to lie, preferably, substantially flush with the counter top. In this face of the bracket are provided electric lamps l3 corresponding in number to the number of seats ll and generally arranged directly opposite the respective seats. The lights, when energized (one at a time only), serve to indicate to a customer, as well as to the salesman, that among the various customers seated the one sitting opposite an energized lamp is the one immediately to be served.

When this service has been accomplished, the salesman presses a button M to actuate a switch device on the other face of the angle bracket, to not only deenergize the particular lamp corre- 6 49 V gnoveabl-e' -withthe seat -carr-ies a rod .49 .-.guided vices which is particularly suitable for a Booth type of service, 20 indicating abootlrcomprising side separating walls 2|, anend wall 22 a table 23 and seats 24. In the instant en bodiment a lamp signal 25 is providedjneachjbooth, for example on the end wall 22 and it ,is .,included in.

a wall casing 26 with window 21. This casing provides, also, a call buttonnorsswitchrdeliice :21};

preferably located at the same (front) face asthe lamp, as well as a restoring button or switchdeyice 29 which is more or less concealed as in being looated,-' for; exa1 nple,- on. aside wall of. the

casinggfi; To secure s81fvice,it-:is thus necessary for the customer to press abutton 28 which-will predetermine the order-Qtservice; and when, in

the proper sequence thisparticular-boeth is to receive service, the lamp--25 of the booth will become energized to indicate thus-thatthe customer seated therein-is-next for} service. The restoring butt nZQ is tobe operated only-by the-one serving the pooth; and upon-completion of service.

The entire control means maybe-associated also with a cqunternotprovided withseating facilities,

f qr egarnpleas indicated in--Fig-ure -3, thecounter 3Q "in which call--buttons 3| are arranged lalong thetop of the'counter at the front-with lamps:32

provided therein directly opposite the respective buttons. ,A series of concealedebuttons 3311s 10- catedralong therear edge ofthe top of thecounter 30, said-top preferably overhangingslightly-said ,ccunter atits rear.

In i nst an ces whereit *is undesirable to alter or p95 sil J 1 3 -m ar a counter; a unit-panel maybeprovlded; and 'such =pane l ;is designedto-contain tlre reinall of the signal elements and the-switchi M means or control-buttons. Thus, as indicated in Figure 4,- the panel is constructed of a :central pcrtionfii and along-its opposite edges there are secured respectivelya strip 36 and a strip3'L-the former containing the callr buttons38, while in the latter strip 31 are contained the associated lamps 39as-well as theresto-ring buttons-40. The necessary wiring (not shownl among these vari- .ous',e1ements may conveniently bellocatedrover the .underiace of the panelwhere it will be-concealed,

and, a cable l-l --consistingsof the difierent leads therefrom -w i-l l extend --'to the sequences mechanism, A panel of this-nature may "thus be associated with a an already installedcounter merely .by placing such-panel on--the top of the same, the weight of said panel =being generally suflicient to maintain it -insplaee thereon;

The closing of the variouscircuitsvbyna.call button or through --occupancy .of a-iseat must ;be only momentary. I In the case of a seat thisbeing affected by-the weight-of the occupant, "the switch then must -notagain-become closed .upon the weight being removed; as when-ran occupant leaves-a seat.-

A swltch' -sui -table forlthis type of control is shown in Fig. 8 wherein -the -seat -.=45 telescopes.

with respect to its supporting base :46 .againstthe tion-fotra--compresionespring. 41:; Anplunger 48 on f the aswitch plate sor frame e50, whichrod is adapted te engage a.-.pi'v'oted -arm1:5l carrying :a

-:travel of the roller.

:not-perrnittedto, return through the guideway 53 namely; toward :the guideway '53,; weight is rthilslcmoVBd from seatAS, the roller contact-making roller 52 at its free end. This roller is designed to ride in a guideway 53 in the direction of movement of the rod 49, and in its passage through said guideway it momentarily rides over the protruding end of a contact pin '54 to actuate through its movement a snap switch (indicated byitscasefi) to close acircuit represented by the leads 56; "The reller mounting telescopes on the arm 5| to accommodate the vertical The said roller, however, is

which would result in a second contact in the lower and upper portions. A spring-pressed gate 583s pivoted-tQ sw-ing in the guideway 53 but only in a direction to pass the roller in its downward travel; and, similarly, a spring-pressed gate 59 is provided at the upper outlet end of the guide- =Wayfilaopeningwnly oppositely tothe gate 58, When .t e

-and-t63 including the control switches 64,,- 6-5 and 66 respectively. These electrical circuits are de- 'si.g i ed,-;t0,, ccntrol es crt e so1enoids.- afifirincluded in such circuits and operating punches [0,21 l, ;and,;'l2- for progiding',;an opaque tape-'l3 with perforations l3 tranversely thereof.

The. tapelilis shown more particularly-in Fig. 9

of-titheirdrawings and it--iis;,of the-type having sprocket: holes Id-along its respectiveedges whereby gthe tape rnay r'be advanced ,in .well known manner throu h engagement, of i said sprocket holes by the teeth of corresponding wheels lfieach ytimeeaasolenoid i s ne ei edu h dv ce. being one step forfeach energization of a circuit. This inter ittent:adva ce of the tape l3 may con- :veniently be. effected alsoi bya punching solenoid up onathe. ,deenerg-izaticnsofi such solenoid, through :the. return-t movement of 1 the corresponding plungerthereof. Thusas indicatedrin Figs-5 and moi thedrawingsfla plunger llll isretracted under ":the influence- 0f a; spring 8 l' when-the-correspond- :Theseperforations continue longitudinally of the tape- -.but are dis-posed--transverselywith respect to one another ,in;-accordance with the particular seatec pied The 5.1 ed geide member 86 is part of a lhfito- {electric system inclpdlng also the, exciter lamps B8; "and cor-respondingphotoe1ectric 89 with amplifier-and lay indicated Joy-the bow 9-). From lZhiSFbQX e d a rlare ty y cu 'respond'g :to ;and cqntrolledf by, the-respective hotoel ct ic lamps-'1 and reach; ui in ludes-a suitable signal such as the electric lamps 92. From the foregoing, it will be apparent that a perforation registering with the slits 81 will permit light from a corresponding exciter lamp 88 to pass through a perforation 13' of the tape and activate the particular photoelectric lamps 89 corresponding to the selected circuit of circuits 6|, 62 and 83 by which the perforation has been effected, thus indicating the customer to be next serviced.

There is provided, also, in connection with the tape movement a pair of take-up sprockets 95 which are to be advanced intermittently by pawl and ratchet mechanism 96 under the control of a solenoid 91, said take-up mechanism bein located beyond the slitted guide member. Solenoid 91 is under control of one or, preferably, a plurality of switches or buttons 98 corresponding to the different seats, so that when a customer has been served the next one in sequence to be served, as well as the salesman, may be notified by energization of the particular lamp associated with the seat. This is accomplished merely by the closing of one of the buttons or switches 98, convenient to the salesman, to cause the tape to be advanced one step and thus bring into registry with the slit 8'! the next one of the perforations 13'.

For the sake of clearness, the distance between the punching mechanism for the tape and the guide member through which it passes has been shown on a greatly exaggerated scale, also the length of the tape itself; and it will be understood that in practice the slit member will be located as closely as possible to the said punching mechanism.

We claim:

In a service system: means for indicating sequence of service, comprising a plurality of stations with customer-seating means, and an electrical circuit controlling means associated respectively with each station and independently operable, together with an indicator means visible to the occupant of the correspondin seating means and to an attendant for servicing said station; electrically-operated selector means, and independent electrical circuits between the respective circuit controlling means and selector means to advance the latter successively upon the closing of any of said circuit controlling means; means automatically controlled by the selector means to affect the indicator means of a corresponding station; and additional circuit controlling means at each indicator means and manually operable by an attendant, together with independent electrical circuits respectively between the said additional circuit controlling means and the selector means to restore to normal upon said manual operation a corresponding indicator means previously affected by the closing of its first-named circuit controlling means.

PETER A. BUCKY.

PAUL SARASON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,072,152 Ocampo Sept. 2, 1913 1,155,106 Schweitzer Sept. 28, 1915 1,821,264 King Sept. 1, 1931 2,124,906 Bryce July 26, 1938 2,206,550 Mordiu July 2, 1940 2,371,491 Wright Mar. 13, 1945 2,391,246 Kenney Dec. 18, 1945 2,407,411 Folis Sept. 10, 1946 

